Clam shell bucket and operating means therefor



June 16, 1959 s, cH 2,890,806

CLAM SHELL BUCKET AND OPERATING ME'ANS THEREFOR Filed Jan. 28, 1958 3 Sheets-She'et INVENTOR.

JOHN 5. 'PILH I ATTOPNEK CLAM SHELL BUCKET AND OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Jan. 28, 1958 J. S. PILCH June 16, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR." 'PI LC H JOH N 5 ATTOFNEY J. S. PILCH June 16, 1959 CLAM SHELL BUCKET AND OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Jan. 28, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. JOHN s. PLC- ATTOPA/EY.

United States Patent O CLAM SHELL BUCKET AND OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR John S. l'ilcl, Ware, Mass.

Application January 28, 1958, Serial No. 711,685

3 Claims. (CI. 214-147) This invention relates to new and improved tractor mounted clam shell buckets or the like and Operating means therefor.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved dipper stick carried clam shell bucket.

Another object is to provide a new and improved bucket of the type set forth which has means for facilitating the dumping thereof.

Another object is to provide a new and improved clam shell bucket of the type set forth which embodies new and improved mechanism for actuating the shells relative to the dipper stick.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which the preferred form of the invention has been given by way of illustration only.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view showing the bucket and bucket carrying mechanism mounted on a tractor;

Fig. 2 is a fragmetary side View of the device shown in Fig. 1, but taken on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the device shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. S isa sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fg. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a fragmertary perspective View of the bucket and dipper stick arrangement; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the bucket actuating mechanism.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout, the arrangement shown in Fig. l comprises a tractor 10 to which is detachably connected a platform 11 to which is pivotally connected the boom support 12 by means of the vertical pivots 13 which allow the boom to pivot about such vertical axes and the boom 14 is pivotally connected to support 12 by the horizontal pivot 15 which allows pivotal movement of the boom 14 in a vertical direction, that is, allows the raising or lowering of the boom..

The hydraulic jack 16 is pivotally connected at one end through pivot 17 to pivotable support 12 and its opposite end is pivotally connected at 18 to boom 14 for effecting the raising and lowering of the boom.

The support 12 is adapted to be pivoted relative to platform 11 by means of a hydraulic jack connected to linkage 19 which is connected to support 12.

The dipper stick 20 is pivotally connected at 21, intermediate its ends, to the free end of boom 14 and is also pivotally connected at 22 to hydraulic jack 23 which is pivotally connected at its opposite end to the boom 14 and which hydraulic jack is adapted to efiect pivotal movement of dipper stick 20 relative to boom 14, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 1.

Adjacent the lower end of dipper stick 20 is provided the clam shell bucket which is designated generally at 24 and which comprises the shell portions 25 and 26 each of which is pivotally connected at 27 to the dipper stick 20. I

The shells 25 and 26 are each provided with the tapered extensions 25a and 26a respectively on the side thereof toward the tractor in order to facilitate dumping from the bucket. In Fig. 5 the bucket is shown in dumping position which is the position of the dipper stick in broken lines in Fig. 1.

The shells 25 and 26 are adapted to be pivoted relative to dipper stick 20 through hydraulic jacks 28 and 28a each of which is connected to one of the shell sections through means of levers 29 and 29a respectively, which levers 29 and 29a are rigidly connected to the respective shell sections either directly or through the pivots and the shells 25 and 26. Each has a gear segment 30 and 31 respectively connected thereto through being 'bolted to the ears 32 on the shells with the gear segments 30 and 31 in meshng relation whereby the shells 25 and 26 are simultaneously pivoted in opposite directions to the same extent.

The hydraulic system for hydraulic jacks 28 and 2811 as well as hydraulic jacks 23 and 16 are controlled by the control levers 33 o-n platform 11 which platform contains its own hydraulic system which is connected to the hydraulic system of the tractor 10.

It will be seen that because of the comating tapered edges 25a and 26a that When the bucket is in. dumping position as shown in Fig. 5 and the shells 25 and 26 are separated for the dumping operation, that substantially all of the material in the bucket will be emptied therefrom because of the portions 25a and 2611 which provide a means of escape of such material from the bucket.

It will also be seen that with the jacks 28 and 2811 adapted to be operated simultaneously as they are connected to the same hydraulic lines and actuated by the same control, that the shells 25 and 26 will be actuated in opposite directions simultaneously and through the mesling gear segments 30 and 31 such simultaneous movement of shells 25 and 26 will be to the same eXtent, that is, the amount of movement will be the same.

It will be seen that the bucket of the present invention is a fixed type clam shell bucket, that is, the shells are fixed relative to the dipper stick and the bevelled or tapered side allows the material to slide out of the bucket. The gear segments are also fixed relative to the bucket and dipper stick.

From the foregoing, it will `be seen that I have provided new and improved means for obtaining all of the objects and advantages of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a dipper stick, a clam shell bucket comprising a pair of oppositely positoned shell portions, said portions being pivotally connected adjacent their upper ends to said dipper stick, hydraulic means for pivoting said shells relative to said dipper stick, gear segments operatively connected to said shells, said gear segments 'being in meshing relation and effecting simultaneous pivotal movement of said shells in opposite directions, said shells each having comating eX- tension portions on one side thereof to facilitate the dumping of said bucket through said side portions when said bucket is raised with said side portions on the dumping side of said bucket.

2. In a device of the character described, a dipper stick, a clam shell bucket comprising a pair of oppostely positioned shell portions, said portions being pivotally connected to said dipper stick, separate hydraulic means for pivoting each of said shells relative to said dipper stick, a gear segment on each of said shells, said gear segments i Patented June 16, 1959 being inmeshing relatim;` and. eifecting simultaneous pivotal movement of said shells inopposite directions, said shells each having comatng tapered extension portions on one side thereof to--faci1itate the dumping of said bucket throughsaidside portionswwhen' said-bucket; is raised with said side portions on the dumping side of` said bucket.

3. In a device of theicharacter described, a dipper stick, a clan shell bucket,-sad bucket comprising' a pair of opposed shell portions* each'pivotallycomectedadjacent one end to said dipper? stick, hydraulic means-for pivoting saidshells relative to said dipper stick and gear segments operatively connected to each of said sh'ells said gear segments being-in meshng relation whereby said 'shells will be simultan'eouslv pivoted in opposite di- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS i 559,384 Hunt May 5, 1896 2,748,5l0 Thompson June 5, 1956 2,770,379 Przybylski L. Nov. 13, 1956 2,826,838 Scheibet al Mar. 18, 1958 

